A modern psychoanalytic approach is used in the treatment of a depressed woman. Among her symptoms were strong feelings of hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, sleeplessness, trouble forming lasting relationships, low self-esteem, and excessive guilt. The treatment plan was to help her verbalize all her thoughts and feelings while limiting any form of acting out in the treatment. This allowed the analyst to deflect severe self-attack away from the patient's ego, interrupt her self-defeating circular ideations, and support her attempts to see herself more positively. The analyst's ability to withstand her depressive mood and verbal attack communicated to the patient the analyst's commitment to her.